System and method using internal short-circuit conductors to control magnetic wheel adhesion

Abstract

A system and method control magnetic adhesion of a wheel to a surface using internal short-circuit conductors. The method includes providing the wheel having a first disc, apertures retaining magnets, and a conducting ring, and a second disc. In a first configuration, the second disc is isolated from the conducting ring to generate a first magnetic flux to increase adhesion. In a second configuration, magnetic interaction of the second disc and the conducting ring generates a second magnetic flux to decrease adhesion. The system implements the method.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wheel having an axle and configured to adhere magnetically to a ferromagnetic surface, comprising:
 an inner annular disc composed of a non-magnetic material and having:
 a first outer circumferential periphery; 
 a first central axial bore configured to retain the axle; 
 a plurality of apertures disposed adjacent to the outer circumferential periphery and configured to retain a plurality of magnets; and 
 a conducting ring disposed adjacent to and surrounding the first central axial bore; and 
   a pair of outer annular discs composed of a ferromagnetic material and disposed on either side of the inner annular disc, with each outer annular disc having:
 a second outer circumferential periphery; 
 a second central axial bore configured to retain the axle; 
 an inner circumferential periphery disposed adjacent to the second central axial bore; and 
 an isolator ring composed of a non-magnetic material and defining a plurality of curves extending in a serpentine manner circumferentially around the inner circumferential periphery intermediate of the second outer circumferential periphery and the second central axial bore, with the serpentine curves of the isolator ring disposed between the inner circumferential periphery and the second outer circumferential periphery, 
   wherein in a first configuration, the serpentine curves of the isolator ring are disposed in a first position relative to the plurality of magnets to magnetically isolate the pair of outer discs from the conducting ring, thereby generating a first magnetic flux between the plurality of magnets and the ferromagnetic surface to increase the adhesion of the wheel to the ferromagnetic surface, and   wherein in a second configuration, at least one outer annular disc is rotated about the axle relative to the inner annular disc to dispose the serpentine curves of the isolator ring in a second position relative to the plurality of magnets to allow magnetic interaction between the pair of outer discs and the conducting ring, thereby generating a second magnetic flux between the plurality of magnets and the ferromagnetic surface to decrease the adhesion of the wheel to the ferromagnetic surface,   wherein the second magnetic flux is less than the first magnetic flux.   
     
     
         2 . The wheel of  claim 1 , wherein the conducting ring is composed of a ferromagnetic material selected from the group consisting of steel, nickel, and cobalt. 
     
     
         3 . The wheel of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of magnets is a permanent magnet. 
     
     
         4 . The wheel of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of magnets is an electromagnet. 
     
     
         5 . The wheel of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of apertures is cylindrical. 
     
     
         6 . The wheel of  claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of magnets is cylindrical. 
     
     
         7 . A wheel having an axle and configured to adhere magnetically to a ferromagnetic surface, comprising:
 a first annular disc composed of a non-magnetic material and having:
 a first outer circumferential periphery; 
 a first central axial bore configured to retain the axle; 
 a plurality of apertures disposed adjacent to the outer circumferential periphery and configured to retain a plurality of magnets; and 
 a conducting ring disposed adjacent to and surrounding the first central axial bore; and 
   a second annular disc composed of a ferromagnetic material and disposed on one side of the first annular disc, with the second annular disc having:
 a second outer circumferential periphery; 
 a second central axial bore configured to retain the axle; 
 an inner circumferential periphery disposed adjacent to the second central axial bore; and 
 an isolator ring composed of a non-magnetic material and defining a plurality of curves extending in a serpentine manner circumferentially around the inner circumferential periphery intermediate of the second outer circumferential periphery and the second central axial bore, with the serpentine curves of the isolator ring disposed between the inner circumferential periphery and the second outer circumferential periphery, 
   wherein in a first configuration, the serpentine curves of the isolator ring are disposed in a first position relative to the plurality of magnets to magnetically isolate the second annular disc from the conducting ring, thereby generating a first magnetic flux between the plurality of magnets and the ferromagnetic surface to increase the adhesion of the wheel to the ferromagnetic surface, and   wherein in a second configuration, the second annular disc is rotated about the axle relative to the first annular disc to dispose the serpentine curves of the isolator ring in a second position relative to the plurality of magnets to allow magnetic interaction between the second annular disc and the conducting ring, thereby generating a second magnetic flux between the plurality of magnets and the ferromagnetic surface to decrease the adhesion of the wheel to the ferromagnetic surface,   wherein the second magnetic flux is less than the first magnetic flux.   
     
     
         8 . The wheel of  claim 7 , wherein the conducting ring is composed of a ferromagnetic material selected from the group consisting of steel, nickel, and cobalt. 
     
     
         9 . The wheel of  claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of magnets is a permanent magnet. 
     
     
         10 . The wheel of  claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of magnets is an electromagnet. 
     
     
         11 . The wheel of  claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of apertures is cylindrical. 
     
     
         12 . The wheel of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of magnets is cylindrical. 
     
     
         13 . A method of adhering a wheel magnetically to a ferromagnetic surface, comprising:
 providing a wheel having an axle, a first annular disc, and a second annular disc, wherein the first annular disc is composed of a non-magnetic material and has:
 a first outer circumferential periphery; 
 a first central axial bore configured to retain the axle; 
 a plurality of apertures disposed adjacent to the outer circumferential periphery and configured to retain a plurality of magnets; and 
 a conducting ring disposed adjacent to and surrounding the first central axial bore; and 
   wherein the second annular disc is composed of a ferromagnetic material and disposed on one side of the first annular disc, with the second annular disc having:
 a second outer circumferential periphery; 
 a second central axial bore configured to retain the axle; 
 an inner circumferential periphery disposed adjacent to the second central axial bore; and 
 an isolator ring composed of a non-magnetic material and defining a plurality of curves extending in a serpentine manner circumferentially around the inner circumferential periphery intermediate of the second outer circumferential periphery and the second central axial bore, with the serpentine curves of the isolator ring disposed between the inner circumferential periphery and the second outer circumferential periphery; 
   disposing the first and second annular discs in a first configuration wherein the serpentine curves of the isolator ring are disposed in a first position relative to the plurality of magnets;   magnetically isolating the second annular disc from the conducting ring; and   generating a first magnetic flux between the plurality of magnets and the ferromagnetic surface thereby increasing the adhesion of the wheel to the ferromagnetic surface.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 disposing the first and second annular discs in a second configuration, wherein the second annular disc is rotated about the axle relative to the first annular disc;   disposing the serpentine curves of the isolator ring in a second position relative to the plurality of magnets;   allowing magnetic interaction between the second annular disc and the conducting ring; and   generating a second magnetic flux between the plurality of magnets and the ferromagnetic surface to decrease the adhesion of the wheel to the ferromagnetic surface,   wherein the second magnetic flux is less than the first magnetic flux.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the conducting ring is composed of a ferromagnetic material. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the conducting ring is composed of a ferromagnetic material selected from the group consisting of steel, nickel, and cobalt. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of magnets is a permanent magnet. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of magnets is an electromagnet. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of apertures is cylindrical. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein each of the plurality of magnets is cylindrical.